The Telegraph’s league table sees secondary schools ranked according to 10 separate criteria, which add up to a maximum score of 40. The newspaper says these are “designed to highlight a range of key data points, measuring key academic, behavioural and organisational performance”.
Using data for the 2023/24 academic year, the points are awarded as follows:
- English Baccalaureate scores (5 points)
- Attainment 8 scores (5 points)
- Progress 8 score (5 points)
- Disadvantaged pupils score (4 points)
- Comparison with local authority (4 points)
- Pupil destinations (5 points)
- Entries options (3 points)
- Oversubscribed schools (3 points)
- Class size (3 points)
- Truancy (3 points)
Almost 3,500 state sector secondary schools in England feature in the league table, with just five schools across the country receiving the full 40 points.
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We have taken a look at 14 state secondary schools in Liverpool and Merseyside that received the lowest scores, thus being branded as ‘well below average’.
Take a look at the gallery below and see how your child’s school fared.

13. St Mary's Catholic College - A Voluntary Aided Academy, Wirral
St Mary’s Catholic College has been awarded a score of 16/40 on The Telegraph's GCSE league table, making it 'well below average'. | google

14. St Cuthbert’s Catholic High School, St Helens
St Cuthbert’s Catholic High School has been awarded a score of 16/40 on The Telegraph's GCSE league table, making it 'well below average'. | Google


